Visual Interactive Trajectory Design

Abstract

A method of altering trajectories via visual "grab-and-drag" gestures with immediate graphical response, called Visual Interactive Trajectory Design (VITD), is presented. The various components of VITD are defined (e.g. draggable objects), and how they affect the trajectory is discussed. An implementation of VITD is demonstrated that uses the General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT) to propagate trajectories, and visualizes them in realtime using the OpenFrames 3D visualization API. Examples of using VITD are shown, including finding a lunar free-return trajectory by visually rotating the trajectory's initial velocity vector. The benefits of VITD are explored, including for teaching, exploring the design space, and generating initial-guess trajectories for optimization.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2015
Accession Number
AD1121939

Entities

People

  • Ravishankar Mathur

Organizations

  • Emergent Space Technologies (United States)

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Graphical User Interface
  • Graphics
  • Human Systems Integration
  • Mathematical Analysis
  • Mechanics
  • Object Oriented Programming
  • Orbital Mechanics
  • Orbits
  • Simulations
  • Software Development
  • Solar Radiation
  • Space Flight
  • Space Systems
  • Trajectories
  • Virtual Reality
  • Visualizations

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Database Systems and Applications
  • Forest Ecology
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris